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THE STATES

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Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Malam Lawal
Shehu said last Saturday that one suspect had been arrested in connection with Friday’s attack on an hotel in Bauchi metropolis.
Briefing newsmen on the arrest made, Lawal said that the suspect was being interrogated and efforts intensified to apprehend his accomplices that fled.
He urged members of the public to be security conscious and observe happenings within their immediate environment and advised the general public to pay special attention to persons and objects, particularly at motor parks, market places, schools, places of worships, shopping malls, eateries and hotels.
“They should report any suspicious persons or objects within their neighbourhood, to the nearest police station for prompt response, using these numbers – 08151849417 and 07013490795, he said.

FCT

The National President, Defence and Police Officers
Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Mary Badeh,  has reaffirmed the commitment of the association to support barracks community.
Badeh made the pledge in Abuja on Saturday at a send-off party organised for Mrs Aminat Ibrahim, the former president of the association and four coordinators who served during her tenure.
“Let me use this medium to reaffirm the commitment of DEPOWA to continue to provide the necessary support and encouragement to the families of our members and the barrack community.
“I will not fail to acknowledge the support of the former Chief of Defence Staff and his successor to the aspirations of DEPOWA,’’ she said.
She added that the association also honoured Ibrahim for her kindness within and outside the barracks community, and
Some of the achievements of the former president to include the successful hosting of DEPOWA Week and the rehabilitation and restructuring of its secretariat building.
She also commended Ibrahim for the purchase.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State government spends N110 million
monthly on refuse disposal, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Kasimu Abubakar, has said.
Abubakar who made the disclosure last Saturday while addressing newsmen in Hayin Banki community in Kaduna when he visited the area to inspect the monthly sanitation exercise said the government engaged the services of 91 refuse disposal companies to dispose refuse across the state.
He said the companies employed 2,700 sanitation workers to dispose refuse adding that the government was consulting with private organisations and individuals to set up recycling plants in the state that would use the refuse to produce fertiliser.
The commissioner urged the people of the community to observe the monthly sanitation exercise by staying at home and cleaning their environment.

Kano

The Kano State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation
realised N352,200 from fines imposed by mobile courts on 144 defaulters of the June edition of the monthly clean-up exercise in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Chairman of the task force, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, announced this on Saturday in Kano while monitoring the conduct of the exercise in the metropolis that the defaulters were apprehended and tried for non-compliance and violation of the order on restriction on movement of people during the exercise.
Abbas told newsmen that the courts operated at 10 designated centres in the metropolis, adding that government would soon inaugurate the task force in each local government area to ensure proper compliance.

Kogi

The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yomi Awoniyi,
has urged Mostems to pray for an end to the security challenge in the country during Ramadan period.
In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu in Lokoja last Saturday. Awoniyi enjoined Muslims to use the holy month to maximise the spiritual and physical benefits inherent in it.
He identified good intention, prayers and firmness of purpose in the pursuit of good deeds as conditions for reaping the benefits of the holy month.
Awoniyi said Ramadan was one of the five pillars of Islam and urged Muslims to be proactive in their decisions and actions that would ensure their participation in the fasting.
He called on preachers to guard their utterances during the fasting period, urging them to preach the true teachings of Islam rather than engage in mutual accusation.

Kwara

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has
urged Mostems to use the Ramadan as a period of reflection and pray for peace to reign in Nigeria.
A statement signed by Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s Director of Publicity, Strategy and Research last Saturday in Osogbo.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, also urged Muslims to use the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for the restoration of peace in the country.
“I give thanks to Almighty Allah for keeping us alive and healthy to witness and partake in another Month of Ramadan; the month of forgiveness, mercy and abundant blessings. “I urge the Muslim to use the opportunity of this month’s divinity to get closer to Almighty Allah and wish them a successful Month of Holiness’’, he said.

Osun

The Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem
Salaam has urged Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan period to offer special prayers for the country’s peace and unity.
Salaam made the appeal in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Goke Butika, Sunday in Osogbo.
According to the statement, the holy month of Ramadan is a period dedicated to seek the face of Allah and urged Muslims to use the occasion to pray for peace and tranquility in the country.
Salaam said with fervent prayers, he believed that the current security challenges threatening the country would be surmounted.
The speaker, however, appealed to clerics to lay emphasis on peace and harmony among Nigerians in their teachings.
Oyo

Former Governor of Oyo State,  Adebayo Alao-Akala has
urged Mostems in the country to use the Ramadan fasting period to pray for the nation’s development.
Alao-Akala, who made the call in Ogbomoso last Saturday, urged Muslims to be steadfast in prayers.
He said Ramadan was a symbolic month meant to move closer to God and called on the Muslims to pray very hard for the nation and that the progress recorded so far was a pointer that the nation would soon attain the enviable position it desired. .
The former governor, who wished Muslims smooth and successful fasting for the next 30 days, urged them to emulate the life and ways of the holy Prophet Muhammed.

Sokoto

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Sokoto State
said last Sunday that it would wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the state in 2015.
The newly-elected Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, told newsmen in Sokoto that the party is intact and united. There will be no retreat or surrender until we take over the government in 2015.”
According to him, the leadership of the party in the state will ensure that the choice of candidates for the various elections is respected.
“The choice of the people will prevail. There will be no imposition of candidates and we will do everything humanly possible to ensure free, fair and acceptable polls,” Milgoma said.
Milgoma said that PDP was blessed with members who were experienced enough in electioneering campaigns.
“This experience will come to bear during the upcoming elections and the party will emerge victorious at all levels.”

Taraba

The police in Jalingo confirmed that unknown gunmen
last Saturday trailed and killed 13 Fulani herdsmen who were returning from village markets in Garba-Chede and Maihula.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the police command in Taraba State ASP Joseph Kwaji, made the disclosure on Sunday in Jalingo.
He said the herdsmen were waylaid and killed by unidentified group of armed youths along a bush path in the outskirts of Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of the state.
He added that it was not clear why the incident took place but further investigation would be able to reveal the reasons for the attack and the people behind it.
The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Mr Andrew Yerima, said the herdsmen were trailed by the armed men from Garba-Chede market where they were believed to have gone to sell their cows.

Wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (middle) with other apc chieftains after a meeting with her in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (middle) with other apc chieftains after a meeting with her in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN

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HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones

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The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.

In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.

The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.

According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.

Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.

In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.

The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.

Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3

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REAN, SON synergise to curb fake renewable energy product

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The Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) says it has strengthened collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance quality control and enforcement frameworks.
Mr Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, the Head of Communications, REAN, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the collaboration would also involve stakeholder engagement on testing, certification and capacity building in Nigeria.
He said the synergy would strengthen quality control and enforcement frameworks, promote policy alignment, and ensure stronger regulation across the renewable energy value chain.
“REAN reaffirms its commitment to standardisation and quality assurance; tighter collaboration with SON is critical to eliminating fake and substandard renewable energy products from the Nigerian market.
“Enforcement and gaps in existing standards have continued to allow inferior products to circulate, undermining consumer confidence and slowing sector growth.”
Lloyd-Dietake said that at high-level discussions, REAN also highlighted the need for stronger regulatory coordination to address emerging challenges in the renewable energy space.
According to him, the issues include inconsistencies in standards, affordability issues linked to certification processes; and the increasing presence of substandard solar and renewable energy equipment in the country.
“The association further raised concerns about delays in product testing and approval, calling for the establishment of more testing laboratories and certification facilities to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the system,’’ he said.
Lloyd-Dietake urged closer collaboration among key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Rural Electrification Agency.
He said such team work would ensure harmonised standards and more effective enforcement against fake renewable energy products in the Nigerian market.
In response, SON acknowledged the important role REAN continued to play in supporting standardisation within Nigeria’s renewable energy industry and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen collaboration with the association.
SON further confirmed that REAN would be actively involved in future standard review processes and upcoming stakeholder engagements related to renewable energy and electric mobility standards development.
Lloyd-Dietake said REAN affirmed its willingness to formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
He said the MoU is aimed at deepening cooperation, promoting quality assurance, and accelerating Nigeria’s transition towards reliable and standardised renewable energy solutions.
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Self Help Africa programme expands water access for 320,000 Nigerians

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The WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) Programme, implemented by Self Help Africa, has expanded access to safe water and sanitation services for more than 320,000 people in Kano and Cross River States.
The organisation disclosed this on Tuesday at the WS4H National Results and Learning Workshop in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed achievements and lessons from the intervention.
Speaking at the event, Self Help Africa Country Director, Joy Aderele, said the programme demonstrated that sustainable WASH improvements require strong institutions, effective governance, adequate financing and collaboration.
Aderele said the UK-funded programme was designed to strengthen systems that support sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
According to her, the intervention focused on improving governance, planning, financing, accountability and sector coordination to ensure resilient service delivery.
“More than 320,000 people now have improved or restored access to water services through programme-supported interventions,” she said.
She added that more than 5,520 household toilets were constructed in Yala and Makoda Local Government Areas, boosting sanitation, public health and efforts to end open defecation.
Aderele said the programme also strengthened public investment in WASH, with Cross River increasing its sector budget by 211 per cent in 2026 and Kano by 169.07 per cent.
She added that dedicated WASH budget lines had been established across 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in both states, strengthening accountability and institutional commitment.
According to her, both states reviewed and adopted updated WASH policies, while key planning documents were developed to guide future investments and service delivery.
She said Cross River also recorded a major legislative milestone through the passage of the Water Law and Open Defecation Prohibition Bill.
Aderele added that lessons from interventions in Yala LGA were already informing expansion efforts in Obubra Local Government Area.
While commending the achievements, she noted that capacity gaps, resource constraints and climate-related pressures remained challenges to sustainable WASH services.
“The sustainability of these gains will depend on continued government leadership, adequate financing, strong partnerships and investment in institutional capacity,” she said.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager of WS4H, Mr Timothy Ibeawuchi, said the intervention focused on strengthening systems needed to sustain gains and attract future investments.
According to him, the programme engages stakeholders in developing strategies that preserve achievements and support long-term service delivery.
“System strengthening work takes time because it addresses the fundamental issues responsible for sustainable and resilient service delivery,” he said.
Ibeawuchi said the programme strengthened policy development, planning, financing, monitoring and evaluation systems across the WASH sector.
He said two pilot local government areas were supported to develop WASH strategic plans outlining sector goals, targets and activities between 2026 and 2030.
According to him, the plans will guide future interventions and improve service delivery in the affected councils.
Earlier, the representative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Chidera Chukwu, reaffirmed support for Nigeria’s development efforts in spite of the programme nearing completion.
Chukwu commended the Self Help Africa-led consortium for delivering the programme with professionalism and a strong focus on systems strengthening.
He said the consortium contributed greatly to strengthening Nigeria’s WASH sector through policy reforms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability.
“Together, we have advanced key policy and legislative reforms, including open defecation-free laws and strengthened state WASH frameworks,” he said.
According to him, the reforms represent enduring system-level changes that will continue delivering benefits beyond the programme’s lifespan.
In his remarks, Mr Jamilu Habu, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the programme’s achievements.
Habu, who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the intervention strengthened governance, coordination, evidence-based planning and institutional capacity in the WASH sector.
He described the workshop as an opportunity to review achievements, share lessons and identify pathways for sustaining and scaling successful interventions.
According to him, the programme’s innovations and best practices will guide future policies and investments aimed at expanding access to safe WASH services.
Habu stressed the need for continued collaboration among governments, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.
He said stronger partnerships remained essential to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.
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